Racing over four laps at this week’s European Indoor Championships will be Justin Davies. He travels to the Netherlands for his Great Britain track debut as the fastest Brit indoors for three years. He spoke to James Rhodes about his surreal indoor season and goals for Apeldoorn.
The past fortnight has been quite an exciting one for Justin Davies. At the start of February, he had raced just one indoor 800m this year. Since then, a maiden British Indoor Championships title, a British U23 Record and an unexpected goal ticked off. A spot at the European Indoor Championships and his track debut representing Great Britain on an international stage.
Justin opened his year with 1:46.94 at the Miting Catalunya in Sabadell in early January. It was his fastest ever time indoors, and only the start of things to come. It is fair to say it has exceeded all expectations he had for this winter.
“It’s totally surreal being in this situation, because it was completely unexpected. It’s just fantastic! I think I would have been very happy with a 1:46-mid indoors. My season opener was good, and my coach said, right, we’re going to try and aim for this time. The European Indoor standard. Just give it a shot“.
Birmingham Brilliance
His next race was the Keely Klassic. Justin’s first time stepping onto this track since winning bronze at last year’s British Indoor Championships. It was a race to remember, victory in 1:45.78. The European Indoor standard – 1:46.40 – the target for the year was well and truly secured. It took a while for to sink in.
“The race went really well. I saw the time and I thought ‘oh my god, this is amazing!’. It sunk in later that evening, it did take a good minute for me to unpack it all.
It was a good event for it. I found it almost got me used to the crowd a week out from the British Championships. At last year’s British Championships, you can see on the footage, I was absolutely terrified. I feel like the Keely Klassic was really good for getting me used to that number of people. It helped make the British Championships, not easier, but more manageable especially in terms of handling my nerves”.
Furthermore, as well as a British U23 Record, 1:45.78 is the fastest by a British athlete indoors in three years. That fact was one that Justin was not aware of, and adds to his optimism for what might come in the future.
“That’s fantastic! I don’t really know what to say to that.
It makes me feel quite optimistic about the summer. My PB is just under half a second faster. On a nice outdoor track, a completely still day, a nice train. We’ll see what happens”.
Photo: James Rhodes
Maiden Title
One week later, a return to the Utilita Arena for the British Indoor Championships. The assignment was simple. With the qualifying time in his hand, a top-two finish was all that was needed to secure a spot in Apeldoorn. That might sound easier on paper than in reality. A particularly tough qualifying process from five heats saw only the first finisher progress.
“There was definitely a lot of pressure. I was talking to Jack Higgins, and I think we were both more nervous for the heats. There was no room for error.
For the final, I knew I just had to finish in the top two. That’s all I could think about to be honest. I had faith that I could kick on from 300m and not let anyone pass me. It went really well, the gamble paid off!”.
In the space of less than two minutes of racing, the latter half of which were particularly eventful for those behind Justin, his fate was decided. British Indoor Champion. Two spots higher on the podium than the year before. A Great Britain track debut was on its way.
“I was happy, but compared to last year where it was really energetic happiness, it was more just a relief. A satisfaction that it was done, it was finished. That was the overwhelming emotion”.
Europe Bound
Now, it is less than one week until Justin takes to the track once again. It is the culmination of the season, which he describes well.
“It was almost like going up a ladder, each time I wasn’t expecting to make the next rung. I’m feeling good. Training is going well, last weekend was a nice confidence booster. I’m optimistic and can’t wait!”.
Whilst he has represented Great Britain at the World University Cross Country Championships, this is something new. Justin’s biggest goal is to learn from the experience. Many of those learning experiences are unknown at present, as they are brand new. For example, pre-race protocols for a competition of this level, how it feels to be part of a team.
Learning from the experience is not the only objective, however.
“My biggest goal is to just learn, to see what it’s like to be at this level. It’ll be a completely different experience. I think there’s going to be a lot of things which I don’t know right now, but I’m going to be so grateful for learning having done it. I just can’t say what they are yet.
To learn, obviously to give it my all and to make sure I leave it all out on the track. I would love to make the final, it would make my year if I made the final. Navigate the rounds as best I can and see what happens”.
Photo: James Rhodes
Racing Companions
He will go travel to Apeldoorn and race alongside Jack Higgins, who too is making his Great Britain debut. They will be joined by Tom Randolph and Justin is looking forward to racing with them both – and others.
“I’m really grateful Tom and Jack are there. Jack and I are going to have very similar experiences. They’re really nice guys, it’s a good team”.
Amongst those Justin would like an opportunity to race are Spaniard Elvin Canales, fastest in the field this year, and Dutchman Samuel Chapple. The former he raced in his season opener in Sabadell, the latter only 0.3 seconds faster.
“In my season opener, he [Canales] gapped the rest of the field quite significantly. I’d love an opportunity to go up against him again. There’s also Samuel Chapple from the Netherlands, who ran at the Keely Klassic.
He’s just ahead of me on the rankings and I keep seeing him on Instagram. I really want to see what happens, I haven’t raced against him before. It probably wouldn’t end too well for me, but I still want to give it a shot”.
Photo: James Rhodes
Future Goals
There is plenty to look forward to beforehand, but the outdoor season is not far around the corner. Amongst Justin’s goals are to get some more experience of racing internationally and improving his PB as far as possible. Depending on how well the latter goes, one eye is naturally on the World Championships qualifying time of 1:44.50.
“My first goal has to be the European U23 Championships. It’s my last year in that age group so I want to give it my best shot. Hopefully I do make the team there. It’s in Bergen and I’ve always wanted to go to Norway, so this would be a great excuse!
Then, the goal would be shifting and maybe looking at the World Championships time. It’s 1:44.50, which is so fast, but I feel I’ve got to stay optimistic. Ideally I can get in the right race and try and aim for that time”.
It will be an exciting year, starting with this weekend in the Netherlands.
Justin is joined by Jack Higgins and Tom Randolph in the men’s 800m at the European Indoor Championships. The heats take place at 10:05 (UK time) on Friday, the semi-finals at 19:13 (UK time) on Saturday and the final at 16:27 (UK time) on Sunday.
